As a top diplomat in Britain’s UN mission, Carne Ross was responsible for liaising with UN weapons inspectors. In an interview with the Guardian, he describes his own government’s claims about Iraqi weapons programs as “totally implausible.”
“I’d read the intelligence on WMD for four and a half years, and there’s no way that it could sustain the case that the government was presenting. All of my colleagues knew that, too”.
Note, he’s not saying the claims were implausible in hindsight, he’s saying he and his colleagues knew they were implausible at the time. And his criticisms don’t stop there.
“There was a very good alternative to war that was never properly pursued, which was to close down Saddam’s sources of illegal revenue”, he says.
Mr Ross also says sanctions imposed against Iraq were wrong. “They did immeasurable damage to the Iraqi civilian population. We were conscious of that but we did too little to address it”, he says.
Whether the Blair government was lying or stupid, doesn’t matter… the point is, they misled the British public in making the case for war. Can anyone really argue that the Bush administration didn’t mislead the American people as well?
Are impeachment hearings in order, YET?
No impeachment while they control congress
Loyalty first, y’know!
Come-on, we know this isn’t news! Anybody that can think on their own (read; not let MSM brainwash you) knew that the UN and the enforced sanctions WERE working. Only if the inspectors were allowed to complete their work.
It’s only the blind and dense that believed the administrations propaganda. Look around ant the FACTS now. No WMD found, Bin Ladin still loose (oh, but the CIA “knows” where he is….riiiiight)!
Puppets!
Even Truman held hearings on the war during democrat controlled white house and legislature….let’s hear ’em now, please!
It makes me ill to even vaguely defend anything Bush, but the UN sanctions weren’t even remotely working — and France at least was actively colluding with Saddam to cheat. Saddam left his people to bear the brunt of the sanctions while he continued to live in unconscionable luxury and steal millions.
Sanctions might work if you target a leader that actually gives a damn about his people, or whose people could rise up against him — neither of which described the situation in Iraq.
I don’t defend the WMD “evidence” being used as the reason we went to war; but just because the Bush administration lied doesn’t mean the previous way of dealing with Iraq was worth a damn.
“The hard fact is that so long as Saddam remains in power, he threatens the well-being of his people, the peace of his region, the security of the world. The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government — a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its people. Bringing change in Baghdad will take time and effort. We will strengthen our engagement with the full range of Iraqi opposition forces and work with them effectively and prudently.
The decision to use force is never cost-free. Whenever American forces are placed in harm’s way, we risk the loss of life. And while our strikes are focused on Iraq’s military capabilities, there will be unintended Iraqi casualties. Indeed, in the past, Saddam has intentionally placed Iraqi civilians in harm’s way in a cynical bid to sway international opinion. We must be prepared for these realities. At the same time, Saddam should have absolutely no doubt if he lashes out at his neighbors, we will respond forcefully. Heavy as they are, the costs of action must be weighed against the price of inaction”
Bill Clinton
Storm the Parapets, grab the leaders! ON TO THE HAGUE!!!!
2 cents, Bush Lied Hundreds of thousands Died. NO matter how Saddam was, you cannot LIE the USA into a war, and not be guilty of HIGH CRIMES AND MISDAMENEARS.
GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY!
Donnageddon@7
“tweek tweek”
Donna
Sure sounds like Bush was using Clinton’s material.
Before I say anything in this topic, Oh GBS he told me off on the Schiavo thread. Gosh GBS you are so bright #285. I am so evil and nasty. I will endeavor to improve my ebonics to a higher level. Thanks for figuring me out.
Now, I ask if France, Germany, Italy, Eqypt, Jordan, and Russia says to you: You know we think Saddam has WMDs, where is the lie? Did I mention GB in that list of sovereign nations? So where is the famous WMD lie?
Rujax: This is not repetition. I already provided the links and the stories not printed by the NY Slimes from the AP and Reuters. Certain HA lefties continue to write in capital letters and misspelled words about “lies”. I Bush lied about
Pudster
I meant to say “I GW Bush, lied about everything about WMDs” Donnageddon is so right! Ha ha ha.
Pudster
re: radish @5, My 2¢ @6
The economic sanctions against Iraq were certainly a crime against humanity in their own right (viz. Madeleine Albright’s affirmative response to the question of whether they were worth the deaths of an estimated 500,000 Iraqi children) constituting an actual legitimate reason for which Clinton should have been impeached. But one effect of the sanctions was that the Iraqi army, as was demonstrated during the invasion, was a shell of it’s former self and posed no threat whatsoever to us or any of Iraq’s neighbors. And this was not secret — consider that the Clinton administration, in addition to using it’s Security Council veto power to prevent the UN from allowing even water treatment equipment, or medical equipment to treat the birth defects caused by depleted uranium radiation, through the embargo, maintained the No-Fly Zone and continuously bombed Iraqi military facilities throughout the 1990’s.
My understanding of Ross’ statements (as they are presented here) is that he’s not saying the sanctions weren’t effective, but that they were managed incorrectly and inhumanely, and review of the UN Security Council records shows that the Clinton, then Bush, administrations were primarily responsible for that.
2 Cents @ 10 I have absolutley no problem of rounding Clinton up and sending him to THE Hague for trial, I am not a big fan of his foreign policy, or his international economic policy. So have at him!
But more importantly, Clinton did not LIE about WMDs to get us into a quagmire that has cost over a 100,000 lives 1700 of the American Soldiers. That is a definite war crime and Bush should be immediatly put on trial and sentenced.
Pudster, you are not worth the effort to respond to. You are completely finished here. You have zero credability.
Go home to mommy.
The only good thing I will say about Clinton is; He was the best Republican president we have had in 50 years.
Donnageddon, I’m not leaving. Eventhough GBS tried to destroy my (credability) credibility, my credibility has not been destroyed, least of all by GBS. All he did was spout off his opinion, one certainly not held by DoD.
Remember donnageddon, the DoD sets the rules on how each person is viewed and reviewed, not GBS. If you fail to see that then you are in the same league as GBS. Keep that wishing well open and contribute often.
Pudster
Hell PuddlyOne, you destroyed your credibility 2 months ago, you ass.
Damn donna or don, there you go with your ass fetish again. I guess PacMan was right about the corn cob!!! Now if you are complaining about Lee Hamilton, gee I’m sorry I found that quote to make you out a liar for the umpteenth time. But wait, let me give full credit to the last donald gelding liar prover – GS on Judge Bridges.
Once again the only thing don can think of is WMDs. So are you going to say Chirac, Schroeder, King Hussein Jr, Putin, Berlusconi, and Mubarak all lied too? Doubt it. Another don lie disproven again.
Pudster
Puddy-o…
Are you still here? I thought it was time to wheel you into the craft room for some scrapbooking.
Ya know whose credibility is in the toilet…your good friend Dubba!! LOWEST APPROVAL RATING EVER!!! But to address Puddy (et-al) for a moment;
Let me ask you this; in all honesty, think back to when Bush was trying to rally the world to build a “Coalition of the willing”. Would you, the Repubs, general public, world leaders, etc., nothave laughed that dim-wit out of every arena he visited if his “plan” was to overthrow the Iraqi government and replace it with democracy. Would you have been okay with this?
Again, think back…suppose he tells us that he’s going to divert oh, say, 3/4 of the military (manpower and money) AWAY from finding the MASTERMIND OF 9-11, would you still have been okay with this?
Regardless of where we are now, don’t you think as “Commander in Chief” he should carefully weigh all options? Validate all “Intelligence”? Formulate a COMPLETE strategy? Make DAMN sure the military is prepared (go to war with the Army you want, not the Army you need…to twist the Sec-o-Def’s now famous blunder)?
I don’t get it either DD. With all the screw ups and now proof of outright outrageous lies…our mighty righty friends pride themselves on clear thinking, swift decisive action. Be prepared, power of pride…all that. How do they square this clusterfudge, anyway? Got to be some boe-dacious case of the ‘ol cognitive dissonance goin’ on. Glad I’m reality based. I guess.
Goldy stopped my last two posts. I think I’m getting banned.
Pudster
GOOOOOLDY????
Don’t ban puddy! Every sand box needs a turd!
Hell, I have has one post here that is late in showing up. Puddle just has a word trapped in the filter.
Could be any word. Cheese, grissle, pancakes.
Thanks DD. I owe you man. That’s the nicest moniker someone has called me since Roger Rabbit.
Pudster
rujax –
Wanna hear something I found rather houmorus (well, i’m gonna tell it anyway…)? I have a nephew who is Army Military Intel (I know, oxymoron). He’s in Afganistan, and I chatted with him over the weekend. Seems he got in HUGE trouble for laughing in is CO’s face when they told his unit that they needed to take…get this…sensitivity training!
His comment was “you just spent two years teaching me to be a solider…TO KILL PEOPLE! Now you want me to be “sensitive”? Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?” He was laughing out loud the entire time…as was(would)I!
Is that what they call going to war with the Army you have, or the Army you want?
No worries Puddy…I might not agree with ya all the time, but I do enjoy the jousting!
DD, when did sensitivity training begin? Please tell me. Thanks
Pudster
Didn’t ask…didn’t tell…but it’s gotta be soon.
Or if ya mean me…never!
No no you DD. My wife’s best friend’s husband is an ex-army reserve DS, retired two years ago. They live in Seattle. He told us that sensitivity training began under the Clinton administration with the color-coded stress cards, the time-outs etc. I wonder if this is another give-in to the Durbins of the world.
Pudster
Hey Goldy?
I’m sure youv’e got a idea on the burner for a new post, but I have an idea. How about… http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4110786.stm
( We know were he is…THEN GO GET HIM!)
or…
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITI.....index.html
(…why bother voting, Bush will wait till recess then push him thru)
Heres another gem from today…man, there everywhere!
Any guesses on who said this?
“”We want more accountability and transparency and less bureaucracy,…”
Color coded stress cards? Time outs? Are we talking the military or kindergarten?
I ask you to confirm with your nephew. Mine say it’s true, both are Navy, Carl Vinson and Abraham Lincoln ACCs. One is getting out, the other is thinking about it. Yeah, this is the military.
Pudster
Well, considering he’s deployed, I likely won’t get the opportunity to talk to him again for a couple months. I’ll see if my brother in law knows.
Although, for the sake of conversation, why does it matter? I think the irony of trying to soften soldiers while in the arena is akin to balancing your tires while driving down the highway.
DD, The CIA statements were on the Drudgereport either Saturday night or Sunday morning. This is “old” news to us righties. You should troll there sometime.
Pudster
I agree. But the right wing military machine are murderous thugs, baby killers, women abusers, prisoner beaters and Koran pissers. They need sensitivity training. Get my drift?
Pudster
I don’t recall seeing those statements….care to paste a link?
…and yeah…I get your drift (sigh).
Come on DD, you know many HA posters have discussed the Koran pissing incident, the Abu Ghraib prisoner beating incidents and Gitmo rant this week, someone talked about rapes of Iraqi women in April or May, many rants on the soldiers being baby killers, ie. murderous thugs with the 100,000 Iraqis killed claims here. You know exactly what I am saying here.
Pudster
Another post eaten. That’s three today.
Pudster
I lost 4 or so last week! I wouldn’t take it personally. I’m not going to assume to know how or if Goldy filters this stuff, but given his recent uh, troubles, I’d believe theres something in the background thats being a pain in the ass.
Yes, but there are some well researched out ones with links and responses. One was about Iran Contra; maybe Oliver North being aquitted is not allowed through his filter. Another was about the Supremem Court and their 1984 decision regarding the Fairness Doctrine, and my latest on this link about the Koran pissers etc.
Pudster
Maybe Goldy can offer an explaination…or maybe its his host…who knows.
I’ve just returned from several days of field research (if you know what I mean) in the rural counties and the Republicans were asking me when they can have their party back. I told them I didn’t know, but could they tell me where the alfalfa is.
So was the Bush administration lying, delusional, or both? EJ Dionne of the WP has a great editorial on that reminding us all of Cheney’s idiotic comments on Russert 5 days before the war started http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....01177.html. Now that the MSM is waking up to the DSM, they also seem to be waking up to the ridiculous promises this administration made that are unfulfilled. Argue all you want about the pre Iraq war policy but 1700 lives and counting were put on the line to support a Quioxtic quest for W’s personal revenge. WMDs were the cover story but OOPS!- they weren’t there. Toppling Saddaam was the easy part-we all knew that. It was what has come after that is the hard part and this administration has blown it beyond repair. Way to go George, Dick, Paul, and Rummy! House Republicans looking to 2006 know a floundering boat when they see one-the rats are about to leave this sinking ship.
Have you all noticed that the rosy pronouncements from W about how great things are in Iraq are starting to be reminiscent of “Baghdad Bob”?
How do you know when Cheney is either lying or wrong?
(His lips are moving)
W. Bush, this man is a war criminal, and we will see that he is brought to trial.
I knew it was going to be sunny yesterday. Wow, anyone can do this stuff. So where was this mouthpiece when there was all the WMD talk BEFORE we went into Iraq? If he KNEW the WMD talk was BS then why does he wait till NOW to speak up.
This guy would have been front page news on any newspaper or magazine he wanted and likely made millions on book and movie rights to this story but he waits till now to speak up and gets didly squat. Hmmm
2 cents, Bush Lied Hundreds of thousands Died. NO matter how Saddam was, you cannot LIE the USA into a war, and not be guilty of HIGH CRIMES AND MISDAMENEARS.
Comment by Donnageddon— 6/20/05 @ 6:39 pm
What drugs are you on when you inputed this data? Who is going to overthrow this Goverment and Hang all those people you claim to be guilty of high crimes and misdamenears? Donnaeddon you could be a victim of this kind of justice are you willing to go there. I know the French did it and cut everybodies head off.
Klake @ 47 “What drugs are you on when you inputed this data? Who is going to overthrow this Goverment and Hang all those people you claim to be guilty of high crimes and misdamenears? Donnaeddon you could be a victim of this kind of justice are you willing to go there. I know the French did it and cut everybodies head off. ”
??????? Could you please try saying something resembling a rational statement? I will then attempt to decypher and respond.
46
Nice try Dave, but Iraq is a military disaster, no WMDs were found, and Bush’s approval ratings are dropping like bird shit. The Nut Wing of the Wing Nut Party won’t be able to lie or spin their way out of this one.
re 41,Puddwhacker:Oliver North was pardoned, not acquitted. There’s a big difference between a pardoned crook and an innocent man who was acquitted. North is a CONVICTED FELON who received a pardon.
WMD? I never said WMD! Me and Sicky Dicky were talking in the Oval Office one day about lunch. I said, “Dickey, do you want to go to the A&W?” And some commie reporter type thought I said WMD not A&W. That’s all it was – honest!
Mushroom cloud? I meant Mushroom burger!
Stupid left wing reporters!
– Dickey Cheney
Uh, after all this esoterically hermetic jousting between people I don’t know about comment threads I haven’t read (George Bernard Shaw posts here?!), I think I’ll go over to Blatherwatch and read about cedar roofing, which has about as much relevance.
Bye Bye SOS, and Welcome!